London close: Financials lead markets lower as RSA sinks

5th Nov 2013 16:22

- UK services growth accelerated in October- European Commission downgrades Eurozone growth- RSA leads financials lower after gloomy updatetechMARK 2,647.46 -0.14%FTSE 100 6,746.84 -0.25%FTSE 250 15,367.61 -0.65%UK markets finished slightly lower on Tuesday as upbeat domestic economic data was outweighed by concerns about growth in the euro area.The financial sectors bore the brunt of the selling today, with RSA Insurance falling heavily after a gloomy third-quarter update and banking stocks registering steep losses. Nevertheless, mining equities were limiting the downside on markets after a continuing improvement in data from top metals consumer China.The FTSE 100 finished 16.78 points lower at 6,746.84, a fall of 0.25%.There was little reaction to the UK services purchasing managers' index (PMI) in the equity space this morning, despite the survey showing the fastest pace of expansion in activity since May 1997. The PMI jumped from 60.3 to 62.5 in October, compared with the forecast for a slight fall to 59.8.Yields on 10-year Gilts, on the other hand, rose by 10 basis points to the 2.72% mark.Sentiment was dampened by the European Commission, which made its second downward revision of 2014 growth for the Eurozone this year. It now expects the region to expand by just 1.1% next year, compared with its previous forecast of 1.2%. Nevertheless, Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs Olli Rehn insisted that the Eurozone was at a "turning point".Traders across Europe were acting cautiously today as eyes begin to turn to the European Central Bank meeting on Thursday, at which some are hoping to see a rate cut. "It would appear that the rate cut has now been priced in though, with indices today edging lower, as traders lock in profits ahead of Thursday's meeting," said Market Analyst Craig Erlam from Alpari.Losses in London were pared slightly by the close after the US ISM non-manufacturing index rose from 54.4 to 55.4 in October, surprising analysts who had expected a small decline. Senior US Economist Paul Dales from Capital Economics said the data "supports other evidence suggesting that the wider economy shrugged off the government shutdown".RSA sinks on worse-than-expected weather lossesRSA fell sharply after saying that recent storms and heavy winds now mean that weather-related losses will be "materially above planning assumptions" in 2013. The company said that its full-year return on equity will be below 10%.A raft of non-life insurance peers were also trading lower with Hiscox, Amlin, Beazley, Admiral and Direct Line all registering losses.Other financials were also in the red, including domestic lenders Barclays, Lloyds and RBS and Aberdeen Asset Management. Even insurance firm Legal & General was lower despite its third-quarter worldwide sales coming in ahead of forecasts. AB Foods also underwhelmed despite a better-than-expected set of annual results following a strong performance from Primark and an improvement in its Grocery division. Security group G4S, which is being investigated by the Serious Fraud Office over a government contract, declined after saying that it has identified 35 businesses to grow or restructure. Leading to the upside was M&S after saying that its "transformation" was on track following a 3.6% increase in sales in the first half, as a strong performance in food offset weakness in clothing.Imperial Tobacco Group gained after an in-line set of annual results with earnings per share up 6% at constant currency. Drug developer Shire also rose after positive results for its Binge Eating Disorder treatment, Vyvanse.Mining stocks were broadly higher after the HSBC/Markit services PMI for China rose from 52.4 to 52.6 in October. Anglo American, Antofagasta, Glencore Xstrata and Rio Tinto all finished up.FTSE 100 - RisersMarks & Spencer Group (MKS) 509.00p +4.50%Imperial Tobacco Group (IMT) 2,382.00p +3.12%Antofagasta (ANTO) 889.00p +2.95%Anglo American (AAL) 1,536.00p +2.78%Amec (AMEC) 1,207.00p +2.72%Glencore Xstrata (GLEN) 341.80p +1.91%Shire Plc (SHP) 2,858.00p +1.35%Rio Tinto (RIO) 3,330.50p +1.25%BHP Billiton (BLT) 1,970.00p +1.05%Aggreko (AGK) 1,566.00p +0.97%FTSE 100 - FallersRSA Insurance Group (RSA) 121.00p -6.27%Persimmon (PSN) 1,215.00p -4.10%Lloyds Banking Group (LLOY) 75.16p -2.44%Barclays (BARC) 249.00p -2.41%Legal & General Group (LGEN) 213.10p -2.20%easyJet (EZJ) 1,203.00p -2.20%Resolution Ltd. (RSL) 351.80p -2.14%Schroders (SDR) 2,575.00p -2.13%Associated British Foods (ABF) 2,208.00p -2.08%Aberdeen Asset Management (ADN) 436.60p -2.04%FTSE 250 - RisersPolymetal International (POLY) 595.50p +4.20%Cranswick (CWK) 1,109.00p +4.03%Kazakhmys (KAZ) 269.20p +3.78%Computacenter (CCC) 598.50p +3.55%PayPoint (PAY) 1,037.00p +3.39%Supergroup (SGP) 1,202.00p +2.82%Perform Group (PER) 560.00p +2.66%RPS Group (RPS) 296.40p +2.60%IP Group (IPO) 150.80p +2.58%Menzies(John) (MNZS) 830.00p +2.41%FTSE 250 - FallersTelecity Group (TCY) 688.50p -6.96%CSR (CSR) 518.00p -5.13%Barratt Developments (BDEV) 320.80p -4.44%Bovis Homes Group (BVS) 766.00p -3.89%Taylor Wimpey (TW.) 106.50p -3.88%Bellway (BWY) 1,450.00p -3.46%Essar Energy (ESSR) 114.90p -3.45%De La Rue (DLAR) 825.50p -3.17%AZ Electronic Materials SA (DI) (AZEM) 271.80p -3.07%Intu Properties (INTU) 335.40p -3.01%BC